Queen Elizabeth II has been crowned at a coronation ceremony in Westminster Abbey in London.
In front of over 8,000 guests, including prime ministers and heads of state from throughout the Commonwealth, she took the Coronation Oath and is now bound to serve her people and to maintain the laws of God.

After being handed the four symbols of authority - the orb, the sceptre, the rod of mercy and the royal ring of sapphire and rubies - the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Geoffrey Fisher, placed St Edward&#39;s Crown on her head to complete the ceremony.

A shout of "God Save the Queen" was heard and gun salutes were fired as crowds cheered.

The Archbishop and fellow bishops then paid homage to Queen Elizabeth II.

In a radio broadcast The Queen said: "Throughout all my life and with all my heart I shall strive to be worthy of your trust".

An estimated three million people lined the streets of London to catch a glimpse of the new monarch as she made her way to and from Buckingham Palace in the golden state coach.

The ceremony was watched by millions more around the world as the BBC set up their biggest ever outside broadcast to provide live coverage of the event on radio and television. Street parties were held throughout the UK as people crowded round television sets to watch the ceremony.

Fireworks

The crowds, some of whom had camped out overnight to ensure a prime position, were rewarded when the Queen and other members of her family, including the Queen Mother, appeared on the balcony at Buckingham Palace.

Despite the overcast weather conditions the RAF marked the occasion with a fly past down the Mall.

A fireworks display then lit up the skies above Victoria Embankment.

The Queen replaced her father, King George VI, as monarch following his death on 6 February 1952. After 16 years on the throne he passed away in his sleep and his 25-year-old daughter Elizabeth immediately became Queen.

The princess formally proclaimed herself Queen and Head of the Commonwealth and Defender of the Faith in February 1952 but the amount of planning and a wish for a sunny day for the occasion led to the long but excited wait for this day.

In Context
Over 20 million people watched the BBC coverage of the coronation. Many people crowded round neighbour&#39;s sets to watch television for the first time. The broadcast was made in 44 languages.
There was a shortage of professional coachmen to help transport dignitaries to Westminster Abbey in horse drawn carriages. Millionaire businessmen and country squires offered their services and on the day they dressed up as Buckingham Palace servants and helped take people to the ceremony.

Many commemorative souvenirs were produced to mark the occasion including a special set of four postage stamps.

In 2002 the Queen celebrated her Golden Jubilee. She marked her 50 years on the throne with a mammoth tour of the Commonwealth and UK where millions turned out to celebrate during the Jubilee weekend.

The highlight of the weekend was the &#39;Party at the Palace&#39; where stars from Ozzy Osbourne and Sir Paul McCartney to S Club 7 and Blue joined forces to entertain the crowds at Buckingham Palace.

:innocent: Does anyone know how I can add more Images? Please tell me, Thank You.

Count Von Schonborn_Wiesentheid

10-05-2003 07:51 PM

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The stylish and elegant Kent Family poses for Cecil Beaton with their attendants at the Coronation

Count Von Schonborn_Wiesentheid

10-05-2003 07:53 PM

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HRH the Duke of Kent and HRH Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent

Count Von Schonborn_Wiesentheid

10-05-2003 07:57 PM

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The Gloucester Family

Count Von Schonborn_Wiesentheid

10-05-2003 07:59 PM

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The Queen posing with her Maids of Honour on Coronation day

Count Von Schonborn_Wiesentheid

10-07-2003 06:31 PM

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HM Queen Elizabeth the Second

Count Von Schonborn_Wiesentheid

10-08-2003 02:58 PM

HRH Princess Alice, the Duke of Edinburgh’s mother, in full-length nun&#39;s robe, leading her family out of Westminster Abbey after the Queen&#39;s coronation. Following her are TRH the Margrave Berthold and the Margravine Theodora of Baden and their son HRH the Hereditary Prince Maximilian of Baden; HSH Prince Gottfried and HRH Princess Margarita of Hohenlohe-Langenburg and their daughter, HRH Princess Beatrix; TRH Prince George Willem and Princess Sophie of Hannover, and her daughter Princess Christina of Hesse; following are TRH the Prince and Princess George of Greece (Prince George in the robes of the order of the Bath).

micas

02-20-2004 07:22 AM

No, that child are the pages, i belive this is the name. In resume they help caring the rob or transport the pilows. You can see them is open of Parlament. The Duke of Edinburg are not crown, he just have to pay obidience to the queen. I belive that he have to read a texte that he promesse respecte her and that bla, bla, they normally say in that ocasions.
The unical case that more than one persone is coranation is like Queen Mume. When the husbem is king,l is wife have a coranation to, she became queen. But When the person in question is a womem, like EIIR the husben is not, he became the consor te prince.

It's a wonderful site and full of pictures.
I won't post anymore from it, because you all can go there and see them (about 150 pictures); it also provides a lot of informations about the Coronation and some related events, such as the rehearsals and the King's funeral.

A small selection of my favourite ones:

- the first official photo as Queen, taken in July 1952
Coronation:
- she walks towards the theatre, in Westminster
- official photo with her maids of honour
- she and Prince Philip wave from the balcony

ritapaiva

09-05-2005 11:32 AM

Robe of State

I have a question about the royal robe called "Robe of State",is it passed from generation to generation or every king and queen have the right to a new one? And if not, how old is the one that Queen Elizabeth normally wears in the opening of the parliament

As far as I know, a new robe is made at the start of each reign for the coronation of the the new monarch. I don't know if the robe worn at the opening of parliament is the one used at the coronation or if it is a replacement.

ElisaR

09-06-2005 10:53 AM

At the Coronation the Queen wore two robes: a crimson robe at the beginning of the ceremony and a purple one, embroided with the Queen's cypher, at the end.
The robe that she wears at the opening of Parliament could be the coronation robe.

Out there I've seen a couple of pictures showing the coronation robes of purple velvet and gold lace worn by the Princesses of the Blood... does anyone know the lenght of these?
I know the Queen's robes are 6 yards long (18') and have embroidery.

The duchesses wear robes trailing 2 yds (6') and at least the Mistress of the Robes, who walks behind HM, has 1 Page to carry her train. Do the other duchesses have a page also? How about Countesses and Baronesses etc?

Speaking of Robes, Does anyone know the lenght for the robes of the Peers (males)?

Also, the lenght of the ducal robes of the Royal Dukes? These have 6 rows of ermine-tails/sealskin spots on the ermine cape (instead of just 4 as do the regular Dukes) but are their mantles longer?
Here's a pic from George IV's coronation: it's the Royal Duke of Clarence, I believe: The other 2 are from EIIR's coronation showing the Duke (and the dowager, his mother) of Kent, and the other Prince Philip doing homage to the new Queen.

Speaking of Train Bearers: In this picture of the Kent family in the coronation of EIIR we see:

-a pagewho we can deduce carried either the train or coronet of the duke
-a lady. who perhaps carried the duchesses train???????-HRH the Duke of Kent-HRH the Prince Michael of Kent (in the kilt)-HRH Princess Marina, the dowager Duchess of Kent, mother of the Duke-HRH Ptincess Alexandra of Kent, also in the robes of a Pss. of the Blood-another young ladywho perhaps bore that of Pss Alexandra??????-a "chevalier d'honnour" ??? did he carry the train of Marina or did he escort her as a "chevalier d'honnour" use to do in France for the Princesses?

THIS FOLLOWING EXCERPT IS FROM THE CORONATION OF GEORGE VI, Where HRH the Princess Marina was also in attendance, but as wife of the Duke of Kent (the King's brother, not as Mother of the Duke as in QIIE's coronation's picture.):

<< HRH the Duchess of Kent, in a Robe of Estate of purple velvet, and wearing a Circlet of Gold on her head. Her Train borne by Lady Flora Hastings, assisted by a Gentleman of her Household. The Coronet of her Royal Highness borne by Viscount Morpeth. >>

Can anyone make sense of all of this? Or perhaps have facts that can clear it all up?

HOW MANY TRAINBEARERS AND PAGES, MAIDS OF HONOUR, etc ASSIST THE PRINCESSES OF THE BLOOD?